Laundry machine



Oct. '3, 1933. F. E. wiLsEY 1,929,377

LAUNDRY momma Original Filed Jan. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 3, 1933. F. E. WILSEY 1,929,377

LAUNDRY MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct.- 3, 1933 F. E. WILSEY ,377

LAUNDRY men-ms Original Filed Jan. 2 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 3, 1933 NIT D STA 1,929,377 I LAUNDRY M'ACHINE Frank E. Wilsey, Chicago, 111.

Application January-2, 1930, Serial Nb. 417,857

. v Renewed February 18,- .1933

I 12 Claims. (01. ass-+101) w The invention relates generally to laundry machinesand more particularly to a new and improved machine adapted to be operated by electric power. a 7

Generally the objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this character which is simple and inexpensive in construction; is of compact arrangement and'light weight; can be made small in size, and washes thoroughly, gently and efficiently. '1 I Another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine embodying newand improved means for agitating the water and the articles to be washed. 7 1

A further object is to provide a novel washing machine in which the means for-agitating the water does not engage or contact the. clothes. 1 a

Still another object resides in the provision of a machine of this character in which substan-. tially all of the used wash water may. be quicklyand conveniently drained from the articles while they remain. in the container so that a subse quent drying operation may take place'without further handling of the articles.

Another object of the invention-isto-provide a novel machine of this'nature' -having' a body member for receiving the articles to be washed,- an agitator member permanently mounted in saidbody member for washing said articles, a removable cover member for closing said body member,

and a driving means on said cover-member de-- tachably connected tosa'id agitator. memben Other objects and advantages will become ape;

parent as the description proceeds. g

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. lis a substantially central, vertical section taken on the line ll of Fig. 3 and showing a washingmachine embodying the features of the invention,"

- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan viewof the ma fication'shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of themodi- :In its generic aspect th'einventioncontem-fi plates the provisionof a container which is internally dividedby aforaminous member into two compartments. One of the compartments receives the clothes or other articles to be washed and the other constitutes-the chamber for the water agitator mechanism. 'Iheagita'tor' comprises a member arranged for recurrent transverse movement in its compartmentto 'cause a flow of water into and through the clothes corn partment from opposed sides'thereof. Electrical driving means including a motor mountedon the cover of the container effects the movement'of the agitaton r 1 More particularly describing the illustrated form of the present inventiomlOdesighates generally a container of any suitable' constructiom The container may be fashioned of any preferred material and is especially adapted to be furnished in small sizes. The containermayhaveany desired shape, such as in the instant case wherein a cylindrical vertical'wallll and 'a flat bottom Wall 12-are integral; A cover 13 'for the open top of-the container is arranged to be securely held thereon by "such I means asa pair of oppositely-disposed latches 14 mounted on the cover. Preferably,-the cover includes suchmeans as a downwardly extending 30 peripheral flange l5 snugly engaging-the upper margin of the vertical Wall of the container in r i order to render the container substantially Water-. tightwhen the cover is in place;- "Handles 16 of any wellknown construction may be provided-to s5- facilitate'handling the machine.

The'interiorof the container is divided into two compartments 1'7 and 18 (Fig; 3) of-unequal sizeby a separating member or partition. genei' aily designatedlQL The larger of the twocom partments, which is the compartment '17, receives' the articles tobe washed, while the smaller one- 18 of the compartments receives the-agitatorf mechanismgenerally-designated 20;

The partition 19 is inthe form ofia foraminous' e5 member arranged'to permit of a substantially unimpeded flow of "water throughout the con-- tainer while preventing'inovemer'it, of the articles, into contact with the agitator "mechanism. "For this ur osea preferred forin of partitioncom-"j prises a U -shaped frame having side members and a top connecting mem er 12 2. These frame members 21 and 22 are of L J-shapedcros ssection to present an inwardly opening: channel for receiving the edges of a screen 23'. Suitable. brackets 24 .secure the partition-and screen in the container with the side membersf2l of the. frame extending verticallyadjacent opposed por- I -tions of the side wall 11, and with the loweriedge of the screen resting upon the bottom of the the lower edge of the paddle. 7

.wall and bottom of the container in every position of the paddle may besaid to substantially water therefrom through said member.

quently the operator, by pressing the articles which extendslaterally across the upper por:

tion of the smaller compartment 18 and is supported at the other end by a bearing member26' rigid with the side wall of the container.

The agitator mechanism in this embodiment is in the form of a paddle-shaped agitator mounted upon the pin 25 for oscillating movement in the lower portion of the smaller compartment. To this end the mechanism includes a rock shaft. 27 having an axial bore 28 (Fig. 3) through which the pin 25 extends. An elongated radially extending arm 29 is secured to the shaft as by be ing formedintegrally therewith. When theshaft is assembled on the pin, the: arm extends downwardlyyinto the smaller compartment and the lengthof the arm is slightly less thanthe disg tance between the rock shaft 27 and' the bottom I 12 of the-container.

he arm 29 is positioned near one end of the rock shaft so that when the shaft is mounted on thepin, the arm lies substantially adjacent a the partition 19. The lower portion of the arm carries a paddle member in the arm of a flat plate 30, extendingytherefrom; toward .the container Wall substantially in the plane of the rock shaft and arm. If desired, reinforcing ribs 31 extending transversely of the plate 39 may be provided. By this construction it will be evident that the paddlemember 30 may swing to and fro in the bottom of the container on a trans verse axis, which movement produces an alterhating flow of waterthrough opposite sides of the foiaminous partition.

I Inasmuch as in thepresent instance the container is of circular shape and since the paddle agitator describes arc in its movements, it. is contemplated that the escape or by-passingof water between the edges of the paddle and the adjacent wall and bottom of the container might preventthe full force of the agitator from being expended increating the flow of water. .Means,

therefore,;are provided for preventing such bypassing of the water and for directing theflow thereof in the proper; direction. Thus, a portion" of. the circular .Wall 11 of the container is struck inwardly during the formationthereof to pro-.: vide a fiat side 32, lying substantially adjacent the; free side edge of the paddle. The bottom 12 of the-container is also struck inwardly to form an arcuate portion 33 (Fig. 1 corresponding to the are described ,by the swinging movement of Thus, the side abut the adjacent side, and bottom edges of the paddle thereby preventing" the water from by passing 'therebetween'; One'of the features in cident to the provision of a foraminous member between the article and agitator compartments is that 1 after thearticles have been washed the container may-be tipped to one side to drain the Conseagainst the member, can force a large amount of watertherefrom without removing thearticles from the container. This is, convenient if the articles are to, be subsequently. rinsed since the.

articles can be wrung as dry as necessary while in the container.

Driving means of any suitable type, for moving the paddle through a limited oscillatory stroke, are provided and I have illustrated herein a simple and efficiently operating means for this purpose which comprises a resilient member for moving the paddle in one direction'and a solenoid motor for moving the paddle in the opposite direction. The preferred type of resilient means is a helically coiled spring 34 which encircles the rock shaft 27. One end of the spring bears against a fin or flange 35 rigid with the rock shaft and the other end of the spring bears against a stationary part of the device such as 2. lug 36depending from the bearing member 26 to urge the agitator in one direction, or, as seen in Fig. 3, to the right.

Inproviding a solenoid motor any well known construction may be employed which is capable of producing ample power to movethe agitating assembly vigorously through the water against substantially overlies the inner end of the rock shaft 27. The rock shaft carries an upwardly extending arm 4lrigid1ysecured thereto which is arranged tdproject through a suitable aperture 42 (Figs. 4 and 5,)..jin thecover to a position adjacent one sideof theoutergendof thecore. This end of the core carries a transverse pin 43, which extends a short distance beyond. bothsides of the core throughielongatcd longitudinally extending slots 44 formed inithe bearing member 40. The

end of the pin 43,;adjacent the agitator arm 41,

has an anti-frictionroller 45 mounted thereon w c is eceiva le inan upwardly openin -yoke. 46 comprising the upper endof the rock, shaft -a.1'm;4l.-,-=. I

The: disposition ofpthe spring 34 and the motor 3'? is such that the direction'of the force exerted by'the spring is opposedptoi'the. force exerted when-the core39 isdrawninwardlyof the motor. Cons quen m.energization of the. solenoid is effective to move the paddle agitator in one tablishing and breaking the energizing circuit of. the solenoid at the proper :moment, .the transia cury switch 471s mounted in spring clips 48 rigid with a horizontally projecting :leg 49v of an .L-

shaped bracket. A pivot pin.50 extends throughv the other vertically extending leg, 51 of the L- shaped bracket into engagement with the side of the bearing 40 which isopposite the arm 41.0f' the agitator mechanism... a' suitableyresilient means,

such as the spring 52, is interposed between the;

pivot pin 50, and the leg-51 to form a somewhat yieldable shock-absorbing connection; Thus, the bracket-and the switch 47; are capableof rocking 13f;

; nous partition dividing said container into two cover.

movementrelative to the core of the solenoid.

The pivotal axis of the bracket is positioned below and'substantially centrally of the elongated guide slot 44, through which the pin 43 projects.

The upper edge of the leg .51 of the bracket is surfaces 53' will be alternately engaged thereby to rock the bracket and the mercury switch 47. Therefore, by mounting the mercury switch in the clips 48 in such manner that the switch disconnects when the bracket is rocked by the core moving inwardly of the solenoid (as shown in Fig; 5), it will be evident that the-solenoid will be disconnected substantially'at the end of the inward stroke of the core to permit the spring 34 to function. Conversely as the spring returns the agitator mechanismto its original position, the pin 43 engages the opposite cam surface 53 to rock the mercury switch into the circuit establishing position shown in Fig. 4. Preferably an enclosing housing 54, for the solenoid motor and the mechanism associated therewith, is provided which may be detachably secured to the cover by any suitable means such as the bolts 55.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a modified form of driving means is illustrated. In this form the,

solenoid motor has been replaced by an ordinary rotary type of electric motor 56 mounted on the The container and the agitating mechanism associated therewith remain substantially the same with the exception that the spring 34 for moving the shaft in one direction is omitted and the oke 46 on the arm 41 is somewhat longer.

5 In order to drivingly connect the motor 56 with the yoke 46 of the agitator mechanism, a worm 5'7, rigid with thearmature shaft 58 of the motor, is arranged to engage a worm wheel 59 r'otatably supported upon a bracket 60 on the-cov- The worm wheel 59 carries an eccentrically locatedpin 61 projecting laterally therefrom for engagement with the yoke 46. Thus rotation of the motor effects the desired reciprocation of the agitator mechanism.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a. simple construction has been created for rapidly oscillating an agitator in a container to create a cleansing flow of water through articles to, be washed. The full force and effect of the agitator mechanism is efficiently directed to the large compartment through the screen and thence through the clothes by the peculiar formation of the side wall and bottom of the container adjacent the agitating paddle and the mechanism for oscillating the agitator is quiet, powerful and positive in action. 7

Particularly with reference to the foraminous member, the agitating mechanism, the driving mechanism, and the means for directing the flow of water, it is contemplated that changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated construction by those skilled in the art. It is,

therefore, not intended to limit the present invention precisely to the disclosed device but to jj cover all alternative forms falling within the zontal axis'for swinging movement in the lower compartments, a swinging agitator pivoted on a horizontalaxis in one of said compartments, a cover for said'container, and driving means on said cover detachablyconnected to said agitator. 2. A laundry machine comprising, in combination,a container, a foraminous partition member 7 within said container-providing a plurality of internalcompartments, a paddle-shaped agitator pivotedin one of said 'compartments on a hori- .85 portion of the container, and means for directing the flow of water into the other of saidcompartmentsn g i F 3. A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, a. foraminou's partition member. within said container'providing a plurality of internalzcompartments, a paddle-shaped-agitator pivoted in one of said compartments on a horizontal axis for swinging movement-in the lowerportion :of the container, and means for preventing the'by passing of Water between the edges of the agitator and the bottom and'an adjacent'sidelof the container so that the flow of water will be directed into the other compartment. j H

4. Alaundry machine comprising, in combina tion, a container having. a substantiallycylindricallyshaped vertically disposed side wall and a bottom wall, and an agitator comprising a flat member journalled insaid container for swing ing movementon a horizontal axis adjacent the wall of the container, said side wallhaving the portion thereof next adjacent said agitator formed to provide an abutting flat surface adapted to prevent the by-passing of water icetween said, surface andthe flat memberso that a,

' and effecting a lateral flow thereof in alternate directions into the larger compartment.

6. A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, a foraminous member dividing said container into large and small compart ments, and means in said small compartment movable parallel to said member for creating a flow of water laterally and alternately first into one and then the other side of said large compartment. a

'7 A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, a foraminous member secured 135 therein dividing said container into compartments, an agitating mechanism mounted in one of said compartments for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, spring means for moving said agitator in one direction, and power driven means 1 for movingsaid agitator in the opposite direction. v

8. A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, a cover member therefor, a, foraminous partition within said container forming separate compartments, agitating means mounted in one of said compartments for oscillating movement on a horizontal axis, a solenoid motor mounted on the cover, means connecting said motor with said agitator for moving the agita- 15g tor in one direction, means formoving the agitator in the opposite direction, and means .controlled by the movement of said agitator for energizing said motor at. spaced intervals.

9. .In a laundry machine, the combination of means yieldably resistingthe movement of said agitator in one direction; a cover, forsaid container, a solenoid motor'connected to said agitator for moving said agitator against the force of said resilient means, an energizing circuitfor ,said motor, and switch'means controlled by the movements of said motor to break the motor cir= cuit at the end of the motor-effected stroke of the agitator and to establish said circuit at the end of the resiliently effected return stroke of the agitator.

11. A laundry machine comprising, in. combination, a container, a foraminous partition dividing said container into compartments, an agitator mechanism'journalled on a horizontal axis in theupper portion of one-of said compartments, said mechanism comprising a bearing member,

an arm extending downwardly. therefrom hav-.

ing a flat surface at the lower end thereof, and an arm, extending upwardly therefrom beyond the top of said containena coverforsaid container having an aperture therein through which said upwardly extending arm projects, a solenoidon said cover including a reciprocating core element, and means detachably connecting said core element and said upwardly extending arm,

'andresilient means resisting the movement of said core in one direction.

12; A laundry machine comprising, in combination, a container, a cover therefor, a vertical screen extending across-the interior of said'container to divide the container into a small com-, partment and a larger article receiving compartment, a rock shafttjournalled to extend transversely across the upper part of the small com-- partment, a paddle agitator depending from said shaft into said compartment, resilient means interposed between said agitator and a stationary part for exerting a forcemoving said agitator in one direction, and a solenoid motor on said cover connected with said agitator'for moving said agi, tator in the opposite direction.

FRANK E. WILSEY.

CERTIFIQATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,929,377, October 3. 1933.

FRANK E. WILSEY.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent reqeiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 31, for arm" read form; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this "14th tiay of November, A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents 

